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You don't need compounds for a good edge. You can get an edge closer but a lot of the finer compounds that make an edge sharper may not make the razor shave better. Some people like the edge. Some don't. Everyone's skin/beard are different. I can get shavable edges with compounds but they aren't as comfortable of a shave.

There is a lot of love for a natural stone finishes in the straight razor world. Some people also love barber hones so once again, to each their own.

taz575

Post subject: Re: Need some help!

Posted: Wed Jun 04, 2014 3:18 pm

Forum Moderator

Joined: Thu Apr 26, 2012 5:13 pmPosts: 3031Location: CT

OK, I will continue to play with the stones and compounds I have currently and go from there. The ozuka asagi left a nice edge, but I didn't shave off of the stone edge. May try that the next time I use it!

studio398

Post subject: Re: Need some help!

Posted: Wed Jun 04, 2014 9:23 pm

Joined: Sat Mar 22, 2014 2:38 pmPosts: 251

Taz,

that's what i do, shave right off my ozuku asagi and i like it. the compounds for me can sometimes feel harsh.

pat

_________________there is never enough time to do it right, but there is always enough time to do it over.

taz575

Post subject: Re: Need some help!

Posted: Wed Jun 04, 2014 11:50 pm

Forum Moderator

Joined: Thu Apr 26, 2012 5:13 pmPosts: 3031Location: CT

I cleaned up the Richmond a bit more and worked on my great uncles old blade (a pyramid with a cross in it and then Gottlieb Hammesfarr, Soligen, foche with a 60 on the other side of the tang, has the original cardboard box), and got the chip 99% removed. Went to the Ozuka Asagi and stropped on leather. The Gottlieb worked well, the Richmond did better, but it was still off. When I felt the edge on the Richmond, it felt like I had a burr. Cutting thru receipt paper made the wire edge fold over, so now I get to deburr. I read about going several strokes on 1 stone, dropping down to the next coarser stone, 1 stroke per side and so on to remove the burr. Any other methods I should try? Neither blade will tree top arm hair or do the HHT. first time sharpening a straight razor, used to doing knife edges that I want to have tooth, so I am a bit lost here! I did find that my San Aoto stone works beautifully on the blades, as does my Yaginoshima Asagi and Ozuka Asagi, but I am just left with a burr and not able to tree top hairs. They shave OK; better than last night, but still not quite there. But no cuts yet though!!!!

studio398

Post subject: Re: Need some help!

Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2014 1:40 am

Joined: Sat Mar 22, 2014 2:38 pmPosts: 251

Taz,

one mantra i keep saying to myself as i hone a razor on the higher grit stones is: "more pressure is never the answer". it will work to your detriment.

pat

_________________there is never enough time to do it right, but there is always enough time to do it over.

taz575

Post subject: Re: Need some help!

Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2014 2:11 am

Forum Moderator

Joined: Thu Apr 26, 2012 5:13 pmPosts: 3031Location: CT

I've been using much lighter strokes, but still have the burr?

Hutch

Post subject: Re: Need some help!

Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2014 7:34 am

Joined: Sun Feb 02, 2014 6:19 amPosts: 313

taz575 wrote:I've been using much lighter strokes, but still have the burr?

Hmmm. More stuff to try. I have been stropping on leather attached to a wood block, should I use the slack leather to stop instead? I am wondering if I am just aligning the burr and not removing it?

Hutch

Post subject: Re: Need some help!

Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2014 6:10 pm

Joined: Sun Feb 02, 2014 6:19 amPosts: 313

taz575 wrote:Hmmm. More stuff to try. I have been stropping on leather attached to a wood block, should I use the slack leather to stop instead? I am wondering if I am just aligning the burr and not removing it?

I'm not sure if one technique of stropping is better than the other, I know both paddle and hanging type strops are effective, I personally also strop on wood backed, paddle type strops. I may try out a hanging type strop though, as it just seems quicker and more convenient hanging in the bathroom. You would think that a hanging type strop with some slack in it would just roll the edge over, but people have been using that technique for a long time, so no right or wrong way I guess. I suppose you could experiment with the pyramid technique while you're honing, where you drop down to one level lower gritstone for a stroke or two and then move back up. If your having burr issues it may help.

taz575

Post subject: Re: Need some help!

Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2014 6:33 pm

Forum Moderator

Joined: Thu Apr 26, 2012 5:13 pmPosts: 3031Location: CT

Yeah, I was wondering if I needed give to the strop to fully remove the burr, but wasn't sure if others have had good luck on a hard strop vs the hanging strap strop. I will order up some more leather strops/compounds from Mark and the USB microscope so I can get a better idea of what is happening with the edge.

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